MELBA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 493, 28 April 1909, Page 8

MELBA.

THE GREAT SINCER IN WELLINGTON. ! Melba,"' supreme among the world's sopranos, sang at tho Town Hall last ovening before a brilliant audience, that filled nearly every seat. There- aro moments in lifo—very rare indeed■ thoy are—when thero seems nothing to wish for. to complete an 'ecstasy of tbo senses,: and many; present last evening will agreo that Melba has' tho ■ power to conjure up such. Sho sings, and nothing else matters. Thero is no room for criticism, and eulogy goes a-searching to return barren of those superlatives which such a voice, combined with such consummate art, could demand. with justico. A world lias proclaimed Molba the■ greatest of living sopranos, so that to dwell upon the'crystalline purity and youth of tho voice, the superb integrity' of her methods, and the delicate' finish and dramatic charm inherent in her artistry, would be an idle waste of words. Tho Melba of last evening was Melba at.;■the:; top of -her form. So far from there being ' any. sus 7 picion of wear detectable, those who heard her when last she sang in ; AVejlingtbn declare enthusiastically that, her voice has mellowed some degrees; that there are a warmth and sympathy in her vocalism which wero not so evident before; and that, withoutariy symptom- of effort—the essence of the. art which. conceals' art—she manages to convey the impression that it would bo a matter of sheer impossibility for'. b.or to do aught but what is in, sweet accord with tho highest canons of her art. Her platform manner has acquired an added geniality in the lapse of years, and till unimpaired, in any way is her personal magnetism, which has so surely caugnt arid held the affections "of .'the artistic crowds of the world's greatest centres, and has sent distracted critics on vain'missions to the dictionaries. It is interesting to note that' when Melba -last in the' news of Tetrazzini's' triumph'at tho Covent Garden Opera in London came over the wires with something of, a- challenge, between; the

lines. Venturesome verities in isolated instances (withMelbaten thousand miles away) hinted' that the- latter's supremacy:: was/ threatened,- but-Melba returned to London town for the succeeding' and was again acclaimed"as incomparable with any living artist.', ;, - .'' ■ ; : .,'; ■. , .'. ~ i"Ah,.forse luii"-the beautiful emotional recitative - and aria from; -' La ■•■ Traviata " (Verdi's, operaticised version of !'La :Dame aux .Camellias " , or" " Camilla'■'), was;.' the opening number selected by Melba lastevening. In the -rebital delight'at finding the. love of. her heart and her hysdespair at the knowledge of her own unworthincss of such a love, the diva struck at the emotion as a skilled harpist strikes his.' chords. :In response- to clamorous applauseji Madame; after bowing her; acknowledgments,carolled the protty'little ballad, ''Lβ Roi D'ys'" (Lalo). Even a deeper, conviction of; j Melba's.greatness in opera was'bprne by her rendering of the" Ave Maria" scena from Verdi's "Otello." /Opening reverentially, with; the "Hiil, Mary,'-!, sung .simply,; but tellingly,:in monotone, .the solo merges, into a/ dramatically' devotional aria of great; empressemont, and ends quietly with the final words'of the :'et«rnal : prayer. It'wasa'beautiful number, iir which'the-'singor, as by some enchantment,, was able ; to present the full -sentiment; of'. the situation,, - whilst ; standing with her hands clasping Her fan; in suggestion; of the theme. In ; 'this'number , her : facial 'expression was a fine index to Madame's power histrionically.'/ Recalled by deafening applause and loud ./cries of "Bravaj" Melba descended, a J step ;to sing Tosti's " Good-bye," in ', which ballad '' she ■ is' ; .»• 'revelation. ' : She not only sang/but aoted the threadbare song, giviiig.it new force arid lively 'meaning./ An 'ovat-ion-followod, and after four; recalls,'she sang'':"Comin'; Thro , ' the Eye" dolightfully. In her final number; the mad scone from "Lucia*dr Lammermoor,"-."Madamo-had the 1 valuable , assistance of;,M,r. : Jphn-'Lomiiiono, and-so perfect wero both singer, and /flautist; that it was at- times 'difficult, to discriminate between the voice and instrument. . The solo concludes with .-a' , brilliant cadenza, ending iin -a i high 'sustained note,; the , vibrant effect' of , wluoh touched- the ear. After the-fifth'recall, Melba delighted all by singing tho famous,waltz song, "So Saran Rose,'? bewitching -the audience with a roguishly • vivacious: interpretation quite new to: thoso acquainted ;with L'Ardita's. lively 'lilt. "~- .V, ,/■■';,' ..-■■" : " '■■''■'■-',' '■■■'■' ■■'■''• . Mr. John Lemmooie, master flautist, played with mnrked-skill "11. Vonto,", by Briccialdi, in which ho : gave a most realistic presentment pf the low murmuring and wild moaning of the wind in- thq trees, which , constitutes" the theme of this difficult composition. Encored: bxv played a . .pretty piece : that served admirably;to display his skill in tho production, of. harmonic effects. Mr. Lemmone's tone, like Melba's voice, mellows with the passage of yoars. Mr. Frederick Ranalow; the only inalo: vocalist, is quite a good performer. His ,voice is a rich heavy baritone, ~ a Jittlo conrso in fibre, but of-pleasing strength und under admirable control. Ho becaino a favourito at once, and was encored for each, 'numbor. His songs wero "I Hoar You/Calling Mo" (Marshall),, "The Dear Littld Irish Girl" (Lohr), "Tliinking of ■ Thee"-'- (Caro Roma), "Tho Billot.Doux". (Lohmanu), "Becauso" (Guy D'Hrirdelot), "Song of a Button" (Ronald), and "If AH tho Young Maidons" (Lohr). , Miss Una Bourne is a pianisto that should bo heard. Unattrnctivo in hor stioniious ; stylo, Miss Bouriio has brilliant executive ability and almost, masculine strength,, which arc bettor displayed, in. tho musio of Liezt (who is ,to music as Victor Hugo is to •' literature) rathor than Chopin (whoso prototypo in letters has been quoted as Byron). Miss Bourno ployed tho A flat Poloimiso of the latter-■ and the sonorouslybrillinnfc "Rlmpsbdio llongroiso" (No. 14): or Lis'zt. Asnn oncoro to tho latter she played a quiet littlo thing of decided'tempo entitled "Woigonliod"—tho product of hor own pen. With tho accompaniments .'of- Mr. Harold Whittlo no fault could':be found. \ '.'•; ; At tho conclusion of tho concert Molba was (iccordod nn ovation such neiins never'been received by any artist at tho Town Hall, and a, largo oro'wd waitnd ou'tsido tho stago door ton minutes .".ftor.tho coiicort hnd ondeu to witness tho singor takolibr departure. At tho second 'and final : concert _.to givon to-morrow 'evening Molba will siiir. tho mad Rcmio from "ITamlot" (Thomas),,lostis !'Good-byo," and "Lo, Herotlio Gentle Lark" (with flute obbligato by Mr. Jplm'Lommono).